Switch cabinet

ABSTRACT

A switch cabinet includes at least two horizontally extending frame profiles having a sealing edge, a fastening surface, and two side walls. Each of the side walls includes a one-part sheet metal blank which forms a frame-like profile edge on all four sides by means of multiple canting, the profile edge being adapted to the frame profile and provided with rows of holes, and the adjacent profile edges ending before the respective edge of the side wall, leaving open a receiving portion for the fastening member of the frame profile.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a filing under 35 U.S.C. 371 of PCT/EP 02/10087which was filed Sep. 9, 2002, which claims the benefit of GermanApplication No. 101 43 918.0 filed Sep. 7, 2001.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a switch cabinet including at least twohorizontally extending frame profiles having a sealing edge andfastening holes, and two side walls.

Switch cabinets of this type are known in the prior art and offer verydifferent possibilities of fastening the side walls. For instance,switch cabinets are known that comprise a frame structure to which theside walls can be fastened. Equally, switch cabinets are also known,wherein the vertical edges of the side walls already assume the functionof the vertical side profiles of the frame structure, i.e. they arealready provided with profile holes to which further board elements canbe fastened. The last-mentioned switch cabinets often have the drawbackof a transition between side wall and bottom and/or ceiling area becauseadditional profile portions have to be welded to the side wall to thisend. The weld points, however, require considerable extra work duringproduction on the one hand and constitute a weak point of the switchcabinet on the other hand. Furthermore, it is most of the time necessaryto weld the side walls to one another despite a profiled contour toensure an adequate stability of the switch cabinet. Moreover, additionalmounting possibilities, the installation of which is complicated, areoften desired in the interior of the switch cabinets.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to simplify thestructure of a switch cabinet of the above-mentioned type as much aspossible and to provide additional fastening points in the interior ofthe switch cabinet at the same time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Said object is achieved for a switch cabinet of the known type in thatthe side walls each comprise a one-part sheet metal which forms aframe-like profile edge on all four sides by means of multiple canting,the profile edge being adapted to the frame profile and provided withrows of holes, and the adjacent profile edges ending before therespective edge of the side wall, leaving open a receiving portion for afastening member for the frame profile.

With such a design of the switch cabinet, profile edges that, incooperation with the frame profiles, can easily be connected to obtainthe switch cabinet are provided on all edge portions of the side wall. Auniversal installation is here ensured by the provision of rows ofholes.

Since the profile edges are provided on all of the four sides, it ispossible to enhance the stability of the resulting switch cabinet. Noadditional connection measures, such as welding, are needed, so thatproduction can be simplified and costs can be saved.

Advantageously, the frame-like edge profiles in the installed state areoriented towards the interior of the switch cabinet. The assembly isthereby displaced into the interior, so that no objectionable edges arefound on the outside. At the same time, the edge profiles are availablefor the internal mounting of further components.

According to a preferred embodiment, the frame-like edge formed on thefour sides of the side wall may respectively be designed as an openprofile. Such an open profile provides, on the one hand, adequatestability of the profile edges canted in this way and offers, on theother hand, the possibility of additionally using the resulting openportion, e.g. for guiding cables or the like, without any impairment ofmounting units arranged in the interior of the switch cabinet.

Advantageously, the vertical sides of the side wall have identicalprofile edges that are side-inverted. This ensures uniformity of theswitch cabinet to be built up.

According to another embodiment the vertical profile edges of the sidewall may have substantially four successive sections, the first sectionbeing canted vertically towards the interior of the switch cabinet, thesecond section being canted from the first section to the outside, thethird section being canted from the second section inwards in parallelwith the side wall, and the fourth section being canted from the thirdsection vertically towards the side wall.

It is possible through the indicated canting sequence to obtain an openprofile edge which shows adequate stability for a switch cabinet. At thesame time, an outwardly oriented sealing edge, which is e.g. ofadvantage upon abutment of a door, is provided between the second andthird section.

The second section may here be angled relative to the first section atan angle of more than 90°. The third section may have an angle of about30° relative to the second section. The indicated angles have turned outto be particularly preferred in practice to provide a sealing edgebetween the second and third section and to ensure the necessarystability.

It may be of advantage when the width of the third section issubstantially identical with the joint widths of the first and secondsections. When the third section is made relatively broad in comparisonwith the first and second sections, this provides, on the one hand, abroad contact surface in the interior of the switch room, e.g. formounting inner components; on the other hand, part of said contactsurface can be used for designing the frame of the switch cabinet.

Advantageously, the rows of holes of the vertical profile edges of theside wall may be formed in the third section. In this instance, two rowsof holes may be arranged in parallel with one another. Since the thirdsection is designed as the contact surface facing the interior of theswitch cabinet, the rows of holes provided in said contact surfaceensure universal installation possibilities for the interior of theswitch cabinet. Since two rows of holes that extend in parallel with oneanother are provided, the possibilities of installation are multipliedand can freely be designed by the final consumer, depending on theapplication. Furthermore, the rows of holes are also particularly easilyaccessible in the mounted state of the switch cabinet.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the profile edge ofthe horizontal side of the side wall, which horizontal side is the topone in the installed state, may comprise four successive legs that arecanted towards the interior of the switch cabinet such that the firstleg extends beyond the side wall towards the interior of the switchcabinet, the second leg is canted from the first leg and arranged in adirection perpendicular to the side wall, the third leg extends from thesecond leg vertically downwards and in parallel with the side wall, andthe fourth leg is canted towards the side wall vertically from the thirdleg.

This canting sequence, too, ensures an open profile again that can beused e.g. for fixing cables, or the like. It has been found to be usefulwhen the angle formed between the side wall and the first leg andbetween the first and second legs is larger than 90°.

This feature further ensures that the open space formed between theindividual legs is sufficiently large to be used further. At the sametime, an adequate stability of the profile edge is also ensured.

Advantageously, the width of the third leg can be chosen to be largerthan that of the remaining legs. Since the third leg extends in parallelwith the side wall, this provides a contact surface for the interior ofthe switch cabinet again, so that an adequate surface is provided forfurther assembly by way of the width chosen.

It has turned out to be useful when the row of holes is formed in thethird leg. Furthermore, two rows of holes that extend in parallel withone another may be formed in the third leg.

This feature increases the universal installation of the side wallagain. At the same time, an easy accessibility of the rows of holes isensured.

Advantageously, the first leg can extend over the spared receivingportion for the fastening member up to the edge of the side wall. Sincethe first leg extends beyond the receiving portion, protection isprovided for the fastening member because this member is not readilyaccessible from the outside.

According to a further embodiment the profile edge of the horizontalside, which is the bottom one in the installed state, may have threesuccessive fold surfaces that are canted towards the interior such thatthe first fold surface is canted vertically towards the side wall intothe interior of the switch cabinet, the second fold surface extendsvertically from the first fold surface upwards, and the third foldsurface extends vertically from the second fold surface in parallel withthe first fold surface to the side wall.

Advantageously, the width of the first fold surface may be a multiple ofthe widths of the second and third fold surfaces.

The design of the first fold surface as a particularly broad surface hasturned out to be particularly advantageous in practice because saidfirst fold surface simultaneously represents the support surface of theside wall. This feature, in turn, enhances the overall stability of theswitch cabinet.

According to a preferred embodiment the third fold surface may beprovided with the row of holes. Since the third fold surface is directedupwards into the interior of the switch cabinet, this offers thepossibility of arranging a bottom plate inside the switch cabinet in asimple way.

Advantageously, the individual holes of the row of holes may be maderound and/or cornered and arranged at regular intervals relative to oneanother. This design permits a very universal use of the side wall andcan be used by the final consumers without any troublesome reworking.Thanks to the standardized distance, elements from other manufacturerscan also be connected with the rows of holes provided for.

It has turned out to be particularly advantageous when the third sectionof the vertical sides of the side wall is formed with a row of holeswhich is directed towards the outside of the switch board and composedof round holes, and with a row of holes which extends in paralleltherewith and which is arranged towards the interior of the switchcabinet and composed of alternatingly round and cornered holes. Thisadditional row of round holes turns out to be useful particularly whenpaint is applied to the side wall because a complete application to theinside of the side wall can thereby be ensured.

The side wall of the switch cabinet of the invention that is providedwith profile edges can be formed easily with a few cants only. The rowsof holes provided in the profile edges permit a universal use of theside wall, so that these can be used in a user-specific way.

According to a further embodiment the legs of the horizontal frameprofiles and the third section of the profile edge of the side wall,which third section is arranged in the installed state in a directionperpendicular to said legs, may be designed with an identical holeprofile at the side facing the interior of the switch cabinet. A contactsurface extending beyond the whole frame portion is thereby providedwith the same hole profile, thereby facilitating the fastening offurther components in the interior of the switch cabinet. In cooperationwith the row of holes provided on the third fold surface, the fasteningpossibilities are even considerably increased.

Advantageously, the sheet metal forming the side wall has a thickness of1.5 mm. This sheet thickness has turned out to be adequate in practicewith respect to the requirements made on the side wall, for instancewith respect to stability and workability.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to anexemplary embodiment taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional perspective view of a side wall of a switchcabinet according to the invention, the side wall being provided withvertical profile edges;

FIG. 2 is a sectional perspective view of a switch cabinet according tothe invention, showing an upper frame profile and a cutout of anadjoining side wall;

FIG. 3 is a sectional perspective view of a switch cabinet according tothe invention, showing a lower frame profile and an adjoining side wall;and

FIG. 4 is schematic view of the necessary canting processes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a portion of an exemplary switch cabinet having a side wall1 which is formed on both vertical sides with profile edges 2 and 3. Itshould be noted that only part of the side wall 1 is shown and that theside wall according to the invention is also provided with profile edgesat the upper and lower side.

The two profile edges 2 and 3 are of an identical, but side-inverted,configuration. Each profile edge 2, 3 is formed by multiple canting ofthe side wall 1.

In detail, each of the vertical profile edges 2, 3 comprises foursections created by successive bending. First of all, a first section4,4′ is bent from the side wall 1 vertically towards the interior of theswitch cabinet. Subsequently, a second section 5,5′ is canted from thefirst section, said second section extending outwards away from the sidewall 1. An angle of more than 90°, preferably 100°, is here formedbetween the first section 4,4′ and the second section 5,5′.Subsequently, starting from the second section 5,5′, the third section6,6′ is bent, section 6,6′, in turn, being canted towards side wall 1and extending in parallel with side wall 1. Subsequently, starting fromthe third section 6,6′, the fourth section 7,7′ is canted, the sections6,6′ and 7,7′ extending in a direction perpendicular to one another, andsection 7,7′ extending towards the side wall 1. As a consequence,sections 4,4′ and 7,7′ extend in parallel with one another. Theoutermost lateral point is respectively provided by the fold edge 8,8′formed between the second section 5,5′ and the third section 6,6′. Theedge 8,8′ simultaneously serves as a sealing edge in the installedstate.

In an alternative embodiment to FIG. 1, the individual edges 2, 3 do nothave to be bent as sharply. For example, a 45°-area may here also beformed on the respective fold or bend edge 8, 8′.

In the installed state, the third section 6, 6′ serves as a contactsurface which is directed into the interior of the switch cabinet and towhich further elements can be fastened. To this end, two rows of holesthat are arranged in parallel with one another are formed in the thirdsection 6,6′. The first row of holes facing away from the interior ofswitch cabinet has round holes arranged at regular intervals relative toone another, and the second row of holes facing the interior of theswitch cabinet is composed of round and rectangular holes which arearranged in alternating fashion and at regular intervals with respect toone another. The provision of different holes makes it possible tofasten very different elements.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is a sectional perspective illustrationof a switch cabinet according to the invention, the figure showing acutout of a side wall 1 with a vertical profile edge 2, and an upperhorizontal profile edge 11. Also shown is an upper horizontal frameprofile 9 before mounting on the side wall 1, and a fastening member 10already connected to the side wall 1.

The vertical profile edge 2 of the side wall 1 corresponds to the onealready described with reference to FIG. 1. An important feature of thevertical profile edge 2, which is not shown in FIG. 1, is that said edge2 does not extend over the whole side of side wall 1, but that an upperportion, adjoining the upper horizontal edge, is left open or spared,i.e., it has no profile edge. It should here be noted that the secondvertical profile edge 3 (shown in FIG. 1) is of an identical, butside-inverted, configuration.

FIG. 2 also shows the upper profile edge 11 of the side wall 1, as hasalready been mentioned. The upper profile edge 11 is also formed bycanting a portion of the side wall.

In detail, four legs 12 to 15 are formed by canting. These are arrangedrelative to one another as follows. Starting from the side wall 1, afirst leg 12 is folded, facing the interior of the switch cabinet,whereby an angle of more than 90° is formed. Starting from the first leg12, a second leg 13 is formed by canting, said second leg 13) extendingin a direction perpendicular to the side wall I and being inclinedtowards the interior of the switch cabinet. Subsequently, the third leg14 is formed by vertical canting, the third leg 14 extending in parallelwith the side wall 1 and downwards, i.e., oriented towards the lowerhorizontal edge of the side wall 1. The fourth leg 15 is formed byrenewed vertical canting, said leg 15 being directed towards side wall1.

The first leg 12 and the second leg 13 have about the same size, whereasthe third leg 14 is made much broader. In the installed state, thisthird leg 14 serves as an inner contact surface. To this end, rows ofholes are also provided in the third leg 14, preferably two rows ofholes extending in parallel with one another, each row having both roundand rectangular holes which are arranged in alternating fashion and atregular intervals relative to one another.

The upper horizontal profile edge 11 does not extend over the wholesurface of the side wall, but also leaves a portion open at each end.However, only the portion formed by the second leg 13, the third leg 14and the fourth leg 15 is spared, whereas the first leg 12 extends overthe whole width of the side wall 1.

The two contact surfaces of the profile edges 2 and 11, namely thesection 6 and the leg 14, extend in one plane relative to one another. Acontact surface formed by three sides of side wall 1 and comprising rowsof holes is thereby provided. Further components of the switch cabinetcan easily be mounted on said contact surfaces.

An upper horizontal profile frame 9 is connected to the side wall 1 inthe assembled state. For this purpose, a fastening member 10 is insertedinto the vertical profile edge 2 and extends up to the second leg 13. Itbecomes apparent that the first leg 12 that extends over the whole sidewall simultaneously protects the fastening member 10 on the outside.

The upper horizontal frame profile 9 has a broad abutment surface 16oriented towards the interior of the switch cabinet, which in theinstalled state is arranged perpendicular to the third leg 14 relativeto side wall 1. The widths of the third leg 14 and of the abutmentsurface 16 are here approximately the same. Like the third leg 14, theabutment surface 16 is provided with two rows of holes extending inparallel with one another, round holes and rectangular holes alternatingwith one another. Starting from the upper and lower edge of the abutmentsurface 16, two legs 17 and 18, which are in parallel with one another,are extending, each facing away from the interior of the switch cabinetvertically from the abutment surface 16. The two legs 17 and 18 haveabout the same width, but leg 17 is additionally provided with a row ofholes, whereas leg 18 has no holes. Subsequently, the leg 17 passes intoa canted portion which extends substantially vertically from the leg 17towards the leg 18.

A leg 19 which has about the same dimensions as leg 18 is arranged at aright angle relative to leg 18 and in parallel with the abutment surface16. A leg 21 is arranged at a right angle relative to leg 19, legs 19and 21 being interconnected via a leg 20 formed by the angle bisector.

The horizontal profile 9 is also an open profile but, unlike the edgeprofiles 2, 3 of the side wall 1, it is not accessible from the interiorof the switch cabinet, but rather from the outside.

The cutout of an inventive switch cabinet as illustrated in FIG. 3 showsa lower corner of the switch cabinet, including the side wall 1 with thealready described vertical side edge 2 and a lower horizontal profileedge 22. Furthermore, a lower horizontal frame profile 23 is shown thatcan be connected by means of a fastening member 24 to the side wall 1.

The lower edge profile 22 of the side wall 1 is formed by three foldsurfaces 25, 26, and 27 that are successively canted from the side wall.First of all, the fold edge 25 is canted at a right angle from the sidewall 1. The fold surface 25 is here made relatively broad because, whenused, it forms a bottom support surface so that the broad design thereofimparts additional stability to the switch cabinet.

The fold surface 26 extends at a right angle relative to the foldsurface 25, the fold surface 26 being made relatively small. From thefold surface 26 and parallel to the fold surface 25, the fold surface 27is angled at a right angle towards the side wall 1. A row of holes whichis composed of round holes is provided in said fold surface 27.

The edge profile 22, in turn, does not extend over the whole surface ofthe side wall 1, but the respective corner portions are again spared forjoining the side wall 1 with the frame profile 23. A fastening member 24may here be provided for the joining operation.

The lower frame profile 23 corresponds to the upper frame profile 9, theframe profile 23 being side-inverted, i.e. the leg 17′ extends into theinterior of the switch cabinet. The lower frame profile 23 is alsoaccessible from the outside of the switch cabinet.

As has already been stated, the edge profiles 2, 3, 11 and 22 of theside wall 1 are made integral with the side wall 1, a one-part sheetmetal blank being here started from that has been given theabove-described form by multiple canting. FIG. 4 roughly shows theindividual canting processes of each side in a schematic way.

Thanks to the additional rows of holes the side wall 1 offers adequatefastening possibilities in the interior of the switch cabinet, said rowsof holes being easily accessible. Furthermore, the profile edges 2, 3,11, and 22, which are formed as open profiles, make it possible to stowaway further components, e.g. to fix cables in the profile edges.

While the invention has been described in terms of various specificembodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the inventioncan be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of theclaims.

1. A switch cabinet comprising. at least two horizontally extendingframe profiles having a sealing edge and fastening holes; and two sidewalls, each of the side walls comprising a one-part sheet metal blankhaving four side edges with opposite ends, each side edge defining aframe-like profile edge by means of multiple canting, the profile edgebeing adapted to said frame profile and provided with rows of holes, andthe profile edge ending before the respective ends of the respectiveside edge of said side wall, thereby leaving open a receiving portionfor a fastening member for the frame profile; wherein at least threedifferent profile edges are formed on said side walls.
 2. The switchcabinet according to claim 1, wherein said frame-like profile edges isoriented toward an interior of the switch cabinet in an installed state.3. The switch cabinet according to claim 1, wherein said frame-likeprofile edge formed as an open profile.
 4. The switch cabinet accordingclaim 1, wherein vertical sides of the side wall include substantiallyidentical profile edges designed in side-inverted fashion with respectto one another.
 5. The switch cabinet according to claim 4, saidvertical profile edges comprising first, second, third and fourthsuccessive sections, said first section being canted in a directionperpendicular to the interior of the switch cabinet, said second sectionbeing canted outwards from said first section, said third section beingcanted from said second section inwards in a direction parallel to saidside wall, and said fourth section being canted from said third sectionin a direction perpendicular to said side wall.
 6. The switch cabinetaccording claim 1, at least one of said profile edges of said side wallcomprising first and second successive sections, wherein said secondsection is angled relative to said first section at an angle of morethan 90°.
 7. The switch cabinet according claim 1, at least one of saidprofile edges of said side wall comprising first, second, and thirdsuccessive sections, wherein said third section has an angle of about30° relative to said second section.
 8. The switch cabinet accordingclaim 1, at least one of said profile edges of said side wall comprisingfirst, second, and third successive sections, and a width of said thirdsection is substantially identical with a joint width of said first andsecond section.
 9. The switch cabinet according claim 4, wherein saidrows of holes of said vertical profile edges of said side wall areformed in said third section.
 10. The switch cabinet according to claim9, wherein said rows of holes comprises two rows of holes arranged inparallel with one another.
 11. The switch cabinet according to any oneof claim 1, wherein a profile edge of a horizontal side edge, which is atop edge one in an installed state, of the side wall comprises foursuccessive legs canted relative to an interior of the switch cabinetsuch that the first leg extends beyond said side wall (1) towards theinterior of the switch cabinet, said second leg is canted from saidfirst leg and arranged perpendicular to said side wall, said third legextends from said second leg vertically downwards and substantiallyparallel to said side wall, and said fourth leg is canted towards saidside wall vertically from the third leg.
 12. The switch cabinetaccording to claim 11, wherein angles formed between said side wall andsaid first leg and between said first and said second leg are madelarger than 90°.
 13. The switch cabinet according to claim 11, wherein awidth of said third leg is larger than a width of said first, second orfourth legs.
 14. The switch cabinet according claim 11, wherein saidrows of holes are formed in said third leg.
 15. The switch cabinetaccording to claim 11, wherein said rows of holes comprises two rows ofholes extending in parallel with one another, said two roles of holesformed in said third leg.
 16. The switch cabinet according to claim 11,wherein said first leg extends over said receiving portion for afastening member.
 17. The switch cabinet according claim 1, wherein aprofile edge of a horizontal side, which is a bottom edge in aninstalled state, of the side wall comprises three successive foldsurfaces that are canted towards an interior of the switch cabinet suchthat the first fold surface is canted in a direction perpendicular tothe side wall into the interior of the switch cabinet, the second foldsurface extends vertically from the first fold surface upwards, and thethird fold surface extends from the second fold surface in a directionparallel to the first fold surface.
 18. The switch cabinet according toclaim 17, wherein a width of the first fold surface is a multiple of thewidths of the second and third fold surfaces.
 19. The switch cabinetaccording to claim 17, wherein said third fold surface is provided withthe row of holes.
 20. The switch cabinet according to claim 1, whereinindividual holes of the rows of holes are made round and/or cornered andare arranged at regular intervals relative to one another.
 21. Theswitch cabinet according to claim 4, wherein said third section of thevertical side edges of the side wall is formed with a row of holes whichis oriented to the outside of the switch cabinet and composed of roundholes, and with a row of holes which extends in parallel therewith andis arranged towards the interior of the switch cabinet and is composedof alternatingly round and cornered holes.
 22. The switch cabinetaccording to claim 20, wherein legs of a horizontal frame profiles and asection of a vertical profile edge of the side wall when in an installedstate is arranged in a direction perpendicular thereto, are providedwith an identical hole profile at the side facing an interior of theswitch cabinet.
 23. The switch cabinet according to claim 1, whereinsaid sheet metal forming the side wall has a thickness of approximately1.5 mm.